Labor & Employment Law

What? Becker renominated to NLRB

The President has renominated Craig Becker to be a Member of the NLRB.

First nominated last Spring, Becker was approved by a Senate committee, but the nomination was "returned" to the White House December 24.

Becker, a Democrat, is associate general counsel to SEIU and the AFL-CIO.

Other pending nomination are Mark Pearce (Dem) and Brian Hayes (Rep).

[White House press release]

My view:

The President is playing hardball.

Traditionally, the Senate approves multiple NLRB nominations as a package. Therefore, it is unlikely that the Pearce and Hayes nominations will be approved by themselves.

Senator McCain placed a "hold" on Becker once. Why not again this time?

There now will be hearings, and lots of contention, and a significant delay in getting the Board back to its full strength of five Members.

Hard to figure how this is helpful to the Democrat majority.

Full post as published by Ross' Employment Law Blog on January 21, 2010 (boomark / email).